If you have mixed feelings about the holidays, the show for you to go to see is New Edgecliff Theatre’s production of this David Sedaris double-bill. The first half of the evening recounts his misadventures as a department store elf (he takes the name “Crumpet”) at Macy’s Santaland. Actor Joshua Steele brings to life the sardonic, put-upon Sedaris who cannot believe some of the foolishness that comes with this job. He also steps occasionally into other voices and characters — eager elves, misguided Santas, overbearing parents and disgruntled customers.
For the second part of the program, Steele changes into Jocelyn Dunbar for “Season’s Greetings,” a holiday letter (being shot on video, no less) about the horrifying family mishaps plaguing her efforts to create a picture-perfect Christmas. Steele lets Jocelyn’s bigotry show through in a piece that can be just plain ugly, but he makes it fun to watch because Jocelyn is such a wacko. The show (presented at the Columbia Performance Center in the East End) is a stringent holiday tonic, with more laughs than cheer. But if you enjoy smart acting and wickedly funny writing, it’s the holiday show you need to see. The last performances run Thursday-Sunday. $15-$23.
Go here for show times and venue details.
